Feb. 23, 1983

Dogs should be allowed to live in Westbrook’s low-income family public housing, some tenants say. “It would be nothing but headaches,” James Smith, executive director of the Westbrook Housing Authority, replies. Smith told the WHA members that “a few people started a petition” in Pine Knoll Terrace, 10 families have signed it, and now the Tenants Council wants something done about it. “When we originally moved in, they were able to have dogs,” Smith said. “We had a lot of comment and problems so we finally said, ‘No

new dogs, and if you already have them you can keep only one.'” But I don’t feel we can get into what people spend their money on as long as they pay their rent.” Smith said he plans to put up a public notice about the dogs for 30 days and see what comment it brings. “This is one I’m going to be especially conscientious about to see that everyone has an opportunity to comment,” he said.

Just Desserts, downtown Westbrook’s bakery, has closed its doors to retail customers in order to expand its wholesale business. Stephen Moss, owner, said he may open a retail store elsewhere if he finds an attractive location. Opened as the Busy Bee Bakery in 1962, the store at 877 Main St. has been a bakery ever since.

Downeast Sporting Goods Inc. and Sportabout moved to downtown Westbrook last week from Gorham. They occupy the store at 861 Main St. that formerly was Rocheleau’s Clothes Shop. Downeast owner Jan Chandler said, “We have so many Westbrook customers that I thought we’d better move down and join them. Besides, I feel very much at home here; downtown Westbrook is where my family did all of its shopping

when I was growing up in Gorham.”

Restrictions were imposed on 28 students of Shaw Junior

High School, Gorham, for poor grades or tardiness. Principal James Silcox reported to he School Committee that he called the students together and told them the restrictions can be lifted when they show improvement. Until then, they are denied corridor posses; passes to the library except by special request by teachers; use of computers and participating in any scheduled dances or intramural athletics. Silcox took the action after viewing grades.

The Westbrook Seals Swim Club, sponsored by the Westbrook Recreation Department, placed first in a tri-meet with Exeter Swim Club and the Sanford Y Titans at the Davan Pool in the Westbrook Junior High, Jan. 23.

Gorham High School seniors Elizabeth Lewsen and Ron Bartlett have been selected to participate in the All-Eastern Music Festival in Boston. Lewsen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Edgecomb, Waterhouse Road, has been a member of the chorus and concert choir for four years and was selected for the All-State Chorus both her junior and senior years. Bartlett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dana E. Bartlett, Dow Road, has been a member of the All-State and Southern Maine Chorus for

three years. He played Cable in “South Pacific” last year and is currently in the musical “Once Upon a Mattress. He plays

trumpet in the high school band and stage band. He plans to join the Navy.

Feb. 24, 1993

After a private meeting, the Gorham School Committee voted 5-0 not to renew teacher Deborah Marquis’ contract after its Aug. 31 expiration. But details of the circumstances surrounding their action remain secret. The decision has upset some parents whose children attend White Rock School, where Marquis teaches first grade. About 20 residents attended last week’s meeting, and about 13 told the School Committee they supported Marquis and opposed the decision to dismiss

her.

A treacherously icy place on Central Street’s hill sent a Westbrook Public Works Department front-end loader skidding backward into Shirley Lavoie, pedestrian; knocked over Police

Chief Ronald Allanach and did the same to Public Works worker Elwin Cole. Lavoie, 53, of 126 Westbrook Gardens, and

Allanach were unhurt; Cole reportedly got some severe bruises. The cluster of accidents happened just before 6 p.m. The loader, driven by Paul Pettis, 50, of Haskell Street, was southbound, going up hill on Central Street. Lavoie was walking up the hill on the left side of the street. One witness told police the loader knocked her down; two others said she fell trying to get out of its way. Lavoie told police she wasn’t sure what happened.

Richard Ranaghan said he wants to save Westbrook taxpayers’ money (or 20 percent of it), and the City Council, sitting as the Committee of the Whole, bought his idea. It probably will be back before the City Council for formal action. Ranaghan proposes to spend six weeks talking with city employees and reviewing city documents and then come up with a set of money -aving ideas that would be reviewed in the seventh

week with the mayor and City Council.

It’s OK for cops to use nightsticks as weapons, but not flashlights. The insurance company has cautioned Westbrook police that civil damage trouble may follow if a policeman hits someone with a flashlight, Chief Ronald Allanach told the City Council. Mayor Fred Wescott asked what a policeman is to do if a person turns on him at a time when he is using a flashlight for a light. Allanach said the policeman should use his baton and he is calling for stricter compliance with a rule requiring each police officer to carry a baton at all times.

Robert Frazier’s offer to trim tree stumps in Robie Park is getting a cool response from Gorham Town Manager Paul Weston. In a related matter, a judge earlier dismissed the town’s complaint against Frazier, which charged him with illegally cutting and stealing a tree from the park last year. The judge ruled that if a crime occurred, the value of the property involved was so minimal that it did not constitute a criminal act. Weston said he had not seen the letter but, he said, “I don’t want Mr. Frazier out with a chainsaw in Robie Park. This is a never-ending saga. It is actually getting almost humorous.” After the court case, Weston said he believed that the town would have to remove the “dangerous and unsightly stumps.” Frazier dropped 16 trees in the park.

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